Writing instrument

ABSTRACT

A writing instrument comprises a writing barrel carrying a projecting portion slidably inserted in a sheath tube. The barrel is movable between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended operative position. The tube is crimped at its ends to retain the projecting portion and a clip is pivotally attached to an end of the barrel which projects from the tube in the inoperative position, the clip being retracted in the sheath tube when the barrel is brought to its extended operative position.

ljmted States Patent 11 1 1111 3,759,622 Miyamoto 1 Sept. 18, 1973 WRITING INSTRUMENT 3,469,927 9/1969 Aversa 401/95 [76] Inventor: Naokichi Miyamoto, 12-23, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3-chome, lsobe, Annaka-Shi, Japan 508,090 1/1955 Italy 401/104 22 Filed: "Au 10, 1971 Primary ExaminerLawrence Charles PP N 1701508 Attorney-Eric H. Waters et al.

[] Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Aug. 15, 1970 Japan /80972 A Writing instrument Comprises a Writing barrel ying a projecting portion slidably inserted in a sheath [52] US. Cl. 401/104 tube- The barrel is movable between a retracted, p- [51] Int. Cl 343k 24/04 efative P iti n and an extended operative position. [58] Field of Search ..401 l 04-T06, The tube is pe at its ends to retain the projecting 91, 95, 107, 10g portion and a clip is pivotally attached to an end of the barrel which projects from the tube in the inoperative [56] References Cit d position, the clip being retracted in the sheath tube UNITED STATES PATENTS when the barrel is brought to its extended operative po- 301,122 7/1884 Hicks 401/ x 1 Schroeder et al 40l/95 X 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures WRITING INSTRUMENT BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a writing device such as a pencil or ball-point pen or the like of the type in which the writing barrel is'encased in a sheath tube when not in use for carrying purposes and is extended, when used, from the sheath tube for obtaining a length suitable for writing.

' According to the invention, awriting instrument is provided which comprises a sheath tube, a writing barrel with marking means slidably mounted in said tube for movement between a retracted, inoperative position, and an extended operative position, and a pivotal clip attached to said barrel and extending from said tube in said inoperative position and retracted in said tube in said operative position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a writing device according to this invention in a condition when it is not used,

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the device in a condition when it is ready for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, therein is seen a writing in strument having a sheath tube 1 with crimped ends 2 and 3 and a writing barrel 4 in the tube 1. The writing barrel 4 carries a projecting member 5 at one end which is slidable in the sheath tube 1 and it is retained therein by the crimped ends 2 and 3 which form receiving edges for engaging projecting member 5. A clip 6 is pivotally attached to a projection 4a on the writing barrel 4 extending from the sheath tube 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the clip 6 is L-shaped and the base thereof is pivotally attached within a groove 7 in the projection 4a of the writing barrel 4. A spring 8 with a dead center action is interposed between the base surface of the groove 7 and the clip 6 for controlling the rotation of the clip 6.

The writing barrel 4 is illustrated as a ball-point pen having a replaceable ball-point and ink cartridge assembly 9. A resilient plate is secured by projections 10 to the end of the writing barrel 4 to form said projecting member 5. The resilient plate is urged outwards by its own resilience against the sheath tube 1 so that the writing barrel 4 is biased against rotation and displacement within the sheath tube 1. As an alternative, the writing barrel may be of any type other than a ball point pen, e.g., lead pencil, ink pencil, felt marker etc. In general, a writing barrel with any suitable type of marking means is applicable in the instrument.

When not in use, the writing barrel 4 is retracted and encased in the sheath tube 1 as shown in FIG. 1 so that the pen point is retracted and can not accidentally mark ones clothes or the like When used, the clip 6 is raised as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and the writing barrel 4 is pushed out from the sleeve 1 by utilizing the clip 6 as a grip, and the writing barrel 4 is extended from tube 1 until the projecting member 5 is engaged with the front receiving edge 2 as shown in FIG. 3. Thereby the writing instrument is in an operative writing condition. For returning to the original, inactive condition, the writing barrel 4 is pushed into the sheath tube 1 and the clip 6 is pivoted to the position along the outer surface of the sheath tube 1.

Thus, according to this invention, the writing device is portable when the writing barrel 4 is retracted and encased in the sheath tube 1 and the writing device can be placed in an operative position by drawing the writing barrel from the tube 1. The extension of the writing barrel 4 is facilitated by using the clip 6 as a grip, and in this case the clip 6 is enclosed in the sheath tube 1 so that the clip does not become an obstacle to holding the pen during a writing operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A writing instrument comprising a sheath tube, a writing barrel slidably mounted in said tube for movement between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended operative position, said writing barrel having forward and rear ends, and including marking means at said forward end, and a pivotal clip attached to the rear end of said barrel in such manner that it extends along andfloutside of said tube in said inoperative position of saidbarrel and is retracted into said tube in said operative position of said barrel.

2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 comprising means to retain the barrel in said tube.

3. An instrument as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to retain the barrel in said tube comprises crimped end portions on said tube.

, 4. An instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein the latter said means comprises resilient means on said barrel engaging the tube and yieldably resisting displacement of the barrel in said tube.

5. An instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilent means comprises a resilient plate coupled to said barrel and retained in the latter by said crimped end portions.

6. An instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein said barrel includes a portion at said rear end projecting from said tube in the inoperative position of said barrel, said clip being connected to the latter said portion.

7. An instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clip is wholly encased within said tube when the barrel is in operative position.

8. An instrument as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projecting portion of the rear end of the barrel has a groove in which said clip is pivotably supported.

9. An instrument as claimed in claim 8 comprising a dead center spring on said barrel urging said clip selectively to one of thepositions thereof.

. l 1 t t 

1. A writing instrument comprising a sheath tube, a writing barrel slidably mounted in said tube for movement between a retracted, inoperative position and an extended operative position, said writing barrel having forward and rear ends, and including marking means at said forward end, and a pivotal clip attached to the rear end of said barrel in such manner that it extends along and outside of said tube in said inoperative position of said barrel and is retracted into said tube in said operative position of said barrel.
 2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 comprising means to retain the barrel in said tube.
 3. An instrument as claimed in claim 2 wherein said means to retain the barrel in said tube comprises crimped end portions on said tube.
 4. An instrument as claimed in claim 3 wherein the latter said means comprises resilient means on said barrel engaging the tube and yieldably resisting displacement of the barrel in said tube.
 5. An instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein said resilent means comprises a resilient plate coupled to said barrel and retained in the latter by said crimped end portions.
 6. An instrument as claimed in claim 5 wherein said barrel includes a portion at said rear end projecting from said tube in the inoperative position of said barrel, said clip being connected to the latter said portion.
 7. An instrument as claimed in claim 6 wherein said clip is wholly encased within said tube when the barrel is in operative position.
 8. An instrument as claimed in claim 7 wherein the projecting portion of the rear end of the barrel has a groove in which said clip is pivotably supported.
 9. An instrument as claimed in claim 8 comprising a dead center spring on said barrel urging said clip selectively to one of the positions thereof. 